Top winners in the 2014 Ocean City Boys and Girls Surf Fishing Tournament are, from left, Lauren Hazewski, 14, Avondale, PA; Ayden Cherry, 12, Brooklyn, NY; Madison Schwartz, 10, Egg Harbor Township; and Reese Dawson, 13, Maple Shade, NJ.
Gobs of seaweed and a surprising lack of fish did not deter 133 youngsters who competed in the 38
th annual Boys and Girls Surf Fishing Tournament on Saturday morning, August 9.
Bridget Hazewski, 8, Avondale, PA, wins a $200 custom-made fishing rod in a drawing during the Boys and Girls Surf Fishing Tournament.
The free event, co-sponsored by the historic Ocean City Fishing Club and the City’s Department of Recreation, took place during an outgoing tide on the north beach near the Ocean City-Longport Bridge.
During the two-hour tournament, boys and girls between 8 and 16 reeled in a grand total of 21 fish — 19 summer flounder and two sharks. By contrast, last year’s total was 187 fish of seven different species caught by 114 kids.
Four youngsters took top trophies this year for their angling skill:
- Most fish caught by a girl: Lauren Hazewski, 14, of Avondale, PA, with three fish
- Largest fish by a girl: Madison Schwartz, 10, of Egg Harbor Township, with a 17-inch flounder
- Most fish by a boy: Reese Dawson, 13, of Maple Shade, NJ, with two flounder caught during his first-ever surf fishing experience
- Largest fish by a boy: Ayden Cherry, 12, of Brooklyn, NY, with an 18-inch flounder, the minimum legal limit.
In addition, Lauren Hazewski’s eight-year-old sister, Bridget, won a drawing after the tournament and took home a $200 custom-made rod by Mike Kulick of KM Custom Rods in Cape May County. The eight-foot rod was especially made by Kulick for the tournament.
Youngsters also took home prizes in each of three age categories.
The ones who traveled the most distance to compete were probably twin brothers Jonathan and Alexander Logie, 13, of Cupertino, CA. They said they return every year to fish the tournament with their cousin, James Willis Logie, 13, of Taneytown, MD.
The chair and co-chair of the event are, respectively, Ralph Miller and Ed Hoban. Margaret Feil, of Ocean View, was responsible for registration and tallying the final results.
Founded in 1913, the Ocean City Fishing Club is the oldest, continuously operating fishing club in the United States. On
Thursday, August 14, it will hold an Open House at its pier near 14
th Street and the Boardwalk from
6 to 8:30 pm.
The club also co-sponsors an annual Invitational Surf Fishing Tournament for teams and individuals. Now in its 47
th year, this competition will take place on
Saturday, October 18, along the Ocean City beaches.
— News release from George Ingram for the Ocean City Fishing Club
Bridget Hazewski, 8, Avondale, PA, wins a $200 custom-made fishing rod in a drawing during the Boys and Girls Surf Fishing Tournament.
The free event, co-sponsored by the historic Ocean City Fishing Club and the City’s Department of Recreation, took place during an outgoing tide on the north beach near the Ocean City-Longport Bridge.
During the two-hour tournament, boys and girls between 8 and 16 reeled in a grand total of 21 fish — 19 summer flounder and two sharks. By contrast, last year’s total was 187 fish of seven different species caught by 114 kids.
Four youngsters took top trophies this year for their angling skill:
